Recently the City of Gaithersburg received a report from the economic development consultant Mike Knapp. I believe that he has brought forth many issues that have been raised previously and continue to need to be addressed.
First and foremost in his recommendations is the need to work with different levels of government to make the interchange at Interstate 270 and Watkins Mill Road a reality. I agree this improvement will make the city more accessible and increase the property value of the east side of our city. An added benefit of this interchange is the connectivity with other sections in both the east and the west side. Tying the city together in a cohesive manner will be the main issue over the next few years as we move to balance the revenue disparity between the east and west sides of Gaithersburg.
Second, I believe that the hiring of an economic development director is important but I think that finding the right fit is more crucial. The person hired must have an understanding of this area and have a diverse understanding of businesses both large and small. One thing that seems to be missing from Mr. Knapp’s recommendations, is reaching out to small businesses. Small business is the backbone of American economic growth and provides 75% of all net new jobs nationwide. The health of the small business sector will have a direct impact on the entire business community. We must make sure not to put too much focus on a small percentage of businesses at the expense of the other business sectors. There is a balance that must be achieved.
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Lastly, the suggestion that we work towards becoming the “Gateway to NIST” is something that is visionary and needed. Even if the steps are small in the beginning it is crucial that we take them now and not delay or over analyze this opportunity. The framework that is to be set up will have major impact of the future of our city.
The underlying message in Mr. Knapp’s report is that strong leadership, vision and action by the elected leaders is necessary to move the city forward.
